The proposal to reduce the frequency of black trash bin pickup in the community has led to trash talk being directed at Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung and he aims to diffuse the tension.

Genung says there has been some strong resistance to the proposal to reduce the weekly pick up of the 120-litre trash bins to every other week.

“I had some pretty strong opposition on Facebook, calling me out, threatening to dump garbage on my lawn, bringing it to the RancheHouse,” says Genung.

Second reading was given to the revised waste management bylaw last night that would see the reduction transpire next May if passed. But the motion also had a new engagement component of forming a focus group to understand the opportunities and challenges of diverting trash from landfills.

Additional, administration was asked to explore ways to reduce the financial burden on those who would require an additional 120-litre bin.

The current proposal calls for residents requiring an extra bin to pay $45 upfront and $13 per month to collect, something Councillor Patrick Wilson believed this is unfair and suggested administration comes back with a lower price.

Mayor Genung wants to initiate what eventually was labeled “Operation Green Op” where he invites people leery of the idea to volunteer to have their trash bin contents analyzed by town councillors and town waste management officials. He proposes to stream it live on town’s Facebook page.

“We would go and see what that situation actually is to see if it is possible and that’s where I’m willing to be wrong. Maybe in some cases, it’s not possible but we’re hearing from our experts that it is.”

He says there has been a negative reaction to the tagging program utilized to help educate people on what is trash, what is recyclable and what is organic waste. He believes people felt threatened by the tagging system and their gut reaction when seeing the tags was that their bin would not be emptied by the town.

“I don’t want to be that government that forces people to do something or they feel like they’re forced. I would like to empower the citizens to want to do this and know it’s the right thing and to understand this is where we’re going.”

“It’s not about picking up less garbage from people. You can still disposed of the same amount of waste, it’s just what bin does it go in.”

A similar point was made by Councillor Tara McFadden. In the past, she said, you could have up to two pails of unsorted trash picked up weekly. Now you actually can dispose of more only in a more responsible manner.

Town councilor Marni Fedeyko, who in the past has expressed concern over whether all residents are ready to live with the reduction, said she’s willing to participate in the mayor’s bin analysis program.

She says all town councillors, except Morgan Nagel, are committed to reaching the target but suggests the transition be made slowly and not hit people too hard in the wallet.

She also believes there could be financial incentives, like reimbursing the $45 extra bin charge if it’s returned by a resident within a year. She says charging upwards of $200 a year is far too high.

“I would like to find a solution that would encourage those not quite ready to move that way without hitting them that hard. I believe in user pay that is fair and with 56 per cent of black bins full every week (according to the report) we are a long ways off of hitting 80 per cent (reduction target).”

Yet the report also states of that 56 per cent, another 29 per cent can actually be placed in the recycle or compostables bins and on average only 27 per cent of the content is waste.

Councillor Morgan Nagel’s opposition continues to be cut and dry. He said last night he would not be willing to participate in the mayor’s proposed program, likes weekly trash pickup and enjoys using straws, referring to a presentation earlier in the meeting on banning both single-use plastic bags and straws in Cochrane.

Others, though, like Councillor Alex Reed says his household already meets the waste reduction target and fails to see any value in further public education. He suggested some people simply won’t change their ways without financial implications.

Last year, council rejected the idea of reducing the pickup frequency and instead opted for an intense public education process and an increase in pickup charges.